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Upekṣā (Sanskrit; Devanagari: उपेक्षा) or Upekkhā (Pāli), is the Buddhist concept of equanimity. The Tibetan equivalent is btang.sñoms. This is a purifying mental state cultivated through meditation on the Buddhist path to wisdom and enlightenment.

Canonical contexts

Cetasika (mental factors)	First jhāna	Second jhāna	Third jhāna	Fourth jhāna
Table: Rūpa jhāna
Kāma / Akusala dhamma (sensuality / unskillful qualities)	secluded from; withdrawn	does not occur	does not occur	does not occur
Pīti (rapture)	seclusion-born; pervades body	samādhi-born; pervades body	fades away (along with distress)	does not occur
Sukha (non-sensual pleasure)	seclusion-born; pervades body	samādhi-born; pervades body	pervades physical body	abandoned (no pleasure nor pain)
Vitakka ("applied thought")	accompanies jhāna	unification of awareness free from vitakka and vicāra	does not occur	does not occur
Vicāra ("sustained thought")	accompanies jhāna	unification of awareness free from vitakka and vicāra	does not occur	does not occur
Upekkhāsatipārisuddhi (pure, mindful equanimity)	does not occur	internal confidence	equanimous; mindful	purity of equanimity and mindfulness
Sources:^[1]^[2]^[3] This box: view talk edit

In Buddhism, upekkha is one of the four Brahmavihara (sublime states), which are purifying mental states capable of counteracting the defilements of lust, avarice and ignorance.

As one of the traditional kammatthana, it is an object worthy of mental cultivation through meditation. Moreover, through meditative concentration on a variety of objects, upekkha arises as the quintessential factor of material absorption (jhana).

In the Theravada list of ten "perfections" (parami), upekkha is the last-identified bodhisatta practice.

Contemporary exposition

American Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote:

“The real meaning of upekkha is equanimity, not indifference in the sense of unconcern for others. As a spiritual virtue, upekkha means equanimity in the face of the fluctuations of worldly fortune. It is evenness of mind, unshakeable freedom of mind, a state of inner equipoise that cannot be upset by gain and loss, honor and dishonor, praise and blame, pleasure and pain. Upekkha is freedom from all points of self-reference; it is indifference only to the demands of the ego-self with its craving for pleasure and position, not to the well-being of one's fellow human beings. True equanimity is the pinnacle of the four social attitudes that the Buddhist texts call the 'divine abodes': boundless loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity. The last does not override and negate the preceding three, but perfects and consummates them.”^[4]

References

^ Bodhi, Bhikku (2005). In the Buddha's Words. Somerville: Wisdom Publications. pp. 296–8 (SN 28:1-9). ISBN 978-0-86171-491-9.
^ "Suttantapiñake Aïguttaranikàyo § 5.1.3.8". MettaNet-Lanka (in Pali). Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
^ Bhikku, Thanissaro (1997). "Samadhanga Sutta: The Factors of Concentration (AN 5.28)". Access to Insight. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
^ Bodhi (1998).

Sources

Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1995, 1998). Toward a Threshold of Understanding (BPS Newsletter cover essays nos. 30 & 31). Retrieved 15 Jan. 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bps-essay_30.html.

External links

Equanimity (upekkha) by the Venerable Nyanaponika Thera.
Dharma Dictionary - RangjungYesheWiki - Btang Snyoms/Upeksa

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[1] Bodhi, Bhikku (2005). In the Buddha's Words. Somerville: Wisdom Publications. pp. 296–8 (SN 28:1-9). ISBN 978-0-86171-491-9.

[2] "Suttantapiñake Aïguttaranikàyo § 5.1.3.8". MettaNet-Lanka (in Pali). Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2007-06-06.

[3] Bhikku, Thanissaro (1997). "Samadhanga Sutta: The Factors of Concentration (AN 5.28)". Access to Insight. Retrieved 2007-06-06.

[4] Bodhi (1998).

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@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 American [[Buddhist]] monk [[Bhikkhu Bodhi]] wrote:
 :“The real meaning of upekkha is equanimity, not [[indifference]] in the sense of unconcern for others. As a spiritual virtue, upekkha means equanimity in the face of the fluctuations of worldly fortune. It is evenness of [[mind]], unshakeable [[freedom]] of mind, a state of inner equipoise that cannot be upset by gain and loss, honor and dishonor, praise and blame, pleasure and pain. ''Upekkha'' is freedom from all points of self-reference; it is indifference only to the demands of the ego-self with its craving for pleasure and position, not to the well-being of one's fellow human beings. True equanimity is the pinnacle of the four social attitudes that the Buddhist texts call the '[[Brahma-viharas|divine abodes]]': boundless [[metta|loving-kindness]], [[karuna | compassion]], [[mudita|altruistic joy]], and equanimity. The last does not override and negate the preceding three, but perfects and consummates them.”<ref>[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bps-essay_30.html Bodhi (1998).]</ref>
-([[Vajrayana]] Buddhism refers to as 'The Four Immeasurables')
 ==See also==